The Volt is also pending a redesign to be revealed January 2015 in Detroit, making it more of a lame duck, but both it and the Leaf were launched the very same month.

Its uptick for August undoubtedly is a welcome boost for its maker which this year did increase battery size to 17.1 kilowatt hours, theoretically good for an extra couple miles EV range to perhaps 40, though its EPA rating remains at 38.

To date, fewer incidents with the Volt’s liquid-cooled battery have been reported than with the Leaf’s air-cooled battery.

But the Volt has fought perceptions, despite being well engineered, albeit with shortcomings in rear seat accommodations for four.